such as sneeze guards, is common practice for both infection control and industrial hygiene.
Administrative Controls (Isolation Precautions)
If working in a health care facility, follow existing guidelines and facility standards of practice for identifying and isolating infected individuals and for protecting employees. See the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ pandemic influenza plan for health care facilities at: www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/sup4.html.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Those who work closely with (either in contact with or within 6 feet) people known or suspected to be infected with pandemic influenza should wear:
- Respiratory protection for protection against small droplets from talking, coughing or sneezing and also from small airborne particles of infectious material.
- N95 or higher rated filter for most situations.
- Supplied air respirator (SAR) or powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) for certain high risk medical or dental procedures likely to generate bioaerosols.
- Use a surgical respirator when both respiratory protection and resistance to blood and body fluids is necessary.
- Face shields may also be worn on top of a respirator to prevent bulk contamination of the respirator. Certain respirator designs with forward protrusions (duckbill style) may be difficult to properly wear under a face shield. Ensure that the face shield does not prevent airflow through the respirator.
- Medical/surgical gowns or other disposable/decontaminable protective clothing.
- Gloves to reduce transfer of infectious material from one patient to another.
- Eye protection if splashes are anticipated.
The appropriate form of respirator will depend on the type of exposure and on the transmission pattern of the particular strain of
